We are a deeply committed couple in our 30's, and the parents of five precious children on a radical journey to get out of debt, build our faith, our family and our home on 11 1/2 acres of land in the hills of beautiful, Southwest Virginia. Our desire is to use our lives and our resources to encourage others. Sometimes the journey is incredible, sometimes it seems impossible. Here you can read about both because such is life...

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Friday, July 12, 2013

I am so happy to report some progress on our house! As of this week...Our septic is going in and we now have a lovely driveway AND pictures to prove it all! I am starting to get REALLY excited!!!

Site of our drain field to the left of house. Daniel
and Ben Harris had to take out some of the woods
to make this happen.

And King and Sons have started their work on the Septic!

My handsome man pleased to see the progress!

I had no idea just how huge a drain field is. There are 6 rows like this!
Guess the grass will be nicely fertilized in this area:-)

Just had to post a pic of Susanna getting her bath at the
aquatic center yesterday:-). Yes, I did wash this sink out
first! There is no way to bathe her good in the camper.

And finally a pic of the driveway that went in just
today! And yes... a driveway was exciting
enough for me to load all 5 kids up and drive out
there to see it:-).

Cannott wait to see the kids riding their bikes on this fairly flat
and wonderful driveway!!! It is by far the longest
driveway they have ever had:-). I cannot express
how blessed I feel that we won't be living so close to a
street like we always have. God is soooo good!

The kids got to witness the bulldozer clearing and
flattening an overgrown area well behind the house
for their swing set and trampoline. This is REALLY
happening!!! I may have to pinch myself to make
sure I am not just dreaming again:-).

Last year my sister Lauren and Brother Michael got us into dressing up as cows and going to chickfila on Cow Appreciation Day to get a free chickfilet meal. We enjoyed it so much that we decided to make it a family tradition! We went today and it was so much fun! We al wished that Lauren, Michael and the kids could have joined us again this year but they were able to go in GA where they live.

Cow Appreciation Day 2013

Cow Appreciation Day 2012 (can't believe
how much all the cousins have grown!)

Tuesday, July 09, 2013

We were blessed to make it to GA for the fourth of July this year! We don't make it down very often. I got to go in April to pick up the kids after my parents kept them the week we listed our house but Daniel had not been since January and he was very excited to make the trip! It was so neat that we got to be there for the Willis Family Reuinion. It has been tradition since my grandparents were alive for the family to gather at Aunt Libby's pool for a cookout on the 4th of July. It still seems strange to me not to have my grandparents at the family gatherings, MaMa Willis died in 2007 and PaPa Willis in 2011. They would be so thrilled to see all 41 members of their family serving the Lord with their lives! They prayed for each of us by name every night. I had not seen my cousin Kevin who is a General in the Air force nor my cousin Wendy who is a missionary in Southeast Asia in a very long time! It was so good to catch up and reminisce! :-)

35 members of the willis family! My cousin Kim just had ababy and was not able to make it and my cousin Kevin's 2 sonsthat attend West Point in NY were also not able to make it.

This is my parents and their family. They are blessed with 9grandchildren and still have more to come! Josh (back row) is the oldestand he married Paola in 2009. They have 1 daughter, Julia. I am themiddle child. Lauren (middle row) is the youngest and she married Michael in 2006 and they have 3 children. Our kids are so blessed to all have cousinsclose in age! Joseph (almost 6) gets so excited about their visits that he can't stand it and has to call us before we get there:-).

So proud of my Dad for losing 25lbs. since we last saw him! I love thispic of Susanna in the 4th of July dress that Aunt Debbie bought her:-)

My Dad loves to annoy all 6 of his kids:-).

My cousins Kristin Gave my mom and I a MaryKay makeover at her beautiful apartment:-). I think it isthe most well decorated apartment I have ever seen! Ishould have taken more pics. Oh, and congratsto my mom for losing 10lbs!

These girls can sure get into some shenanigans at grandma's and justlike her mom, she never says a word about it:-). This is the brandnew sleeper sofa pulled out with 3 little girl cousins stuck in it:-)